Due to be operational by December 2016, the Village Express and Upper Village Gondola lifts will stretch for a total of 1,130 metres. The Village Express will be an 830-metre-long high-speed lift comprising six-person chairs and eight-person gondolas. A new mid-point station will be built beside the main village area, close to the resort’s Asian tapas bar.

The Upper Village Gondola meanwhile, will be a new 300-metre gondola that will provide to access a beginner’s ski area on the Green Leaf Niseko Village slopes. It will also allow guests to connect to the top of the Village Express lift, providing access to restaurants, shops and hotels.

In addition, a new ski run will also be created within the village along with two “magic carpet” surface lifts for beginners. And another new 1.2km ski run will be developed from the top station to the Village Express lift base. The course will run from the Green Leaf Niseko Village and Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse, alongside the retail and dining area and over a road via a ski-bridge.

“This investment represents the next step within the master plan to develop Niseko Village into one of the world’s greatest all-season resorts,” said Shiau Wee Long, CEO of Niseko Village. “As an integrated all-season resort, Niseko Village is committed to provide all the existing accommodations, shopping, entertainment and dining facilities including future developments within the resort with the ultimate ski-in ski-out accessibility, day and night during winter.

“The new lift infrastructure will run throughout the year giving travellers added reasons to return during summer for sightseeing and activity offerings within Pure at Niseko Village, our nature and adventure park, from 2017 onwards.”

Located on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, at the base of Mount Annupuri, Niseko Village covers almost 900 hectares of skiable terrain, along with hotels, spa and onsen facilities, a dining and retail village and luxury residences.